Robert E. Lee’s extraordinary life

It has come to attention that loud, concerned voices want to remove the name of Robert E. Lee on both the High School in Staunton, and also on the Episcopal church bearing his name in Lexington. Misplaced sensibilities make Lee the target of a politically correct steamroller. One News Leader commenter wrote that it is “irrelevant” that Lee freed his inherited slaves in 1862 and that it is now time to be “inclusive.” What greater inclusion could Lee have accomplished than to free slaves? What exceptional name does Staunton expect to find? Robert E. Lee’s life fills that extraordinary requirement.

In April 1861 Lee earned President Lincoln’s admiration and was offered the job of leading the Union Army that was to suppress rebellion in the South. This offer gnawed at Lee’s conscience, but then a decision came. His answer would be “resist.” Why? The United States of 1861 had many wrongs to correct. However, Lee saw that the greatest evil in April 1861 was the federal government’s threat of the ruination or death of its own citizens. Federal policy was to be managed by special interests and new poorly trained soldiers, many of whom came directly from immigrant ships, alleys and off the streets. Federal government and Union army confiscation, cruelty and destruction confirmed the fears of millions. Notwithstanding, General Lee referred to the Union army only as “those people” while hating the war that he hoped would end quickly.

At war’s end, the same Lee who resisted despotism in futility also set the example of reconciliation. He led Virginia’s Reconstruction efforts. He knelt beside a former slave in St. Paul’s Church in Richmond to show how to commune together.

The politically correct slander Southerners like Lee as if they had the choice of only one great wrong (slavery) to resist. Such a view shows a neglected education.

We should praise Robert E. Lee because he broke norms, practiced inclusion, and (most importantly) he resisted the worst kind of government that a country could fear.

DOUG DESPER

Waynesboro

The writer is a member of the class of 1983 of Robert E. Lee class.

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